 Fleming made 87 against Bangladesh at the weekend |
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming insists he will be available for the March Tests against England despite reports he is set to retire. The 34-year-old retired from the one-day game in September and reluctantly relinquished the Test captaincy to Daniel Vettori.
Reports had suggested the batsman was considering quitting Tests.
But Fleming said: "Unless it has come from the New Zealand selectors, then it's not the case."
The former Nottinghamshire captain intends to be a part of the Kiwi team which faces England in the three-Test series in March.
Before then, in February, the two teams will face each other in two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.
 | 606: DEBATE |
"I'm working hard on a couple of things batting-wise with that in mind," Fleming added. "I've got three weeks now to work away at domestic level."
Currently contracted to Wellington province, Fleming handed over the Kiwi captaincy after 10 years and 80 Test matches and was regarded as one of the finest skippers of his generation.
He admitted his disappointment in stepping down but continued to feature in the two Test defeats to South Africa in November and the recent victories over Bangladesh.
The upcoming tour offers Fleming another chance to hit a Test century at his home Basin Reserve ground.
He has not reached three figures there for his country in a 12-year international career.
"That's probably one of the regrets I'll have with my 43 fifties - there are a lot where I look for the positive option and just don't execute, or get carried away, get impatient," he said.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?